Polar Bears International

“All of these things kind of helped to shape a picture of why this period [in cubs’ lives] is important.” PBI Research Fellow Dr. Louise Archer chatted with Science Magazine about her latest paper that gives insights into the denning period of a cub's life.

We were honored to sit down with renowned animator Aaron Blaise to talk about our favorite moms and cubs facts while he created a new illustration in honor of International Polar Bear Day!

We're thrilled to share that the first peer-reviewed paper from our ongoing maternal den study in Svalbard, Norway, in partnership with Norsk Polarinstitutt • Norwegian Polar Institute and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, was published today in the Journal of Wildlife Management. This research marks the first combination of satellite tracking collars with remote camera traps to answer questions about polar bear denning, which is notoriously difficult to study as polar bear moms build their dens under the snow in remote areas. The researchers present new insights into the timing of den emergence and post-emergence behaviors alongside new tools to monitor polar bear dens across the Arctic. Cub survival underpins species survival, and the denning period is the most vulnerable period of their life—less than 50% of cubs may make it to adulthood. As industry expands in the Arctic, the study highlights the importance of undisturbed denning areas to protect polar bear populations. Learn more about the study: pbears.org/41m7ORk

It’s International Polar Bear Day! 🐻❄️ We founded the day to coincide with the time period when polar bear moms and cubs are snug in their dens across the Arctic. Denning is the most vulnerable time in a polar bear’s life. And in a warming Arctic, it’s becoming more challenging for polar bear cubs to survive into adulthood. The biggest threat to polar bear population sizes is cubs not surviving to adulthood, so every single cub is critically important. As part of our celebration, we focus on the need to protect denning families across the Arctic. Keep an eye on our social channels today for more fun facts about moms and cubs and an inside look on our ongoing maternal den research, straight from our team that is currently in the field in Svalbard, Norway. Learn more about International #PolarBearDay and support our work to protect a future for polar bears around the Arctic: https://lnkd.in/g6Drrcpr

We are proud to share that we have earned a Candid. Platinum Seal of Transparency once again for 2025! We are also very proud to be a 4-star charity on Charity Navigator. We've earned the highest possible ranking at these trusted nonprofit rating organizations based on our strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency. We couldn't have received this top rating without our supporters. Thank you for trusting us with your donations and for your ongoing support and commitment to our efforts on behalf of polar bears across the Arctic! Learn more about our impact: pbears.org/ourimpact

Today is International Day of Women and Girls in Science! Polar Bears International is proud to count many amazing women among our staff, researchers, contractors, and partners. To celebrate women in science, our field ambassador, Dr. Cassandra Debets, who has studied polar bears and ringed seals, spoke with us about her career, her scientific progression, and any advice she might have for any young girls who want to be scientists.

A new peer-reviewed study of Indigenous knowledge on human-polar bear coexistence in Churchill, Canada, published recently in Nature Communications Earth & Environment. This new research, supported by Polar Bears International, mixes methods from Indigenous ways of knowing and social sciences to advance wildlife conservation across the Arctic. This research provides a new perspective on how research and management can include Indigenous perspectives to adapt to a changing Arctic. By highlighting Indigenous knowledge of coexistence, it advances the importance of relationships in fostering reciprocal respect between people and polar bears. Learn more about the report and listen to podcasts featuring the contributors: pbears.org/4aUFdH9

Scientists have now quantified how sea ice loss has impacted polar bears in the Western Hudson Bay region by shorting the feeding season, which has resulted in an an energy deficit for the bears for longer stretches of the year. "They're really tightly linked to the sea ice. Their whole lifestyle depends on it." — Dr. Louise Archer, lead author and Polar Bears International Research Fellow

A new study from leading institutions including Polar Bears International establishes a mechanistic link between climate change-driven sea ice loss and polar bear population declines. The research highlights the urgent need for climate action to protect polar bears, especially vulnerable cubs, as the Arctic warms over four times faster than the global average.

New research gives us a fresh glimpse into polar bears’ life on the sea ice, where they are most difficult to access and study. Bears on the sea ice show more variation in weight gain on the sea ice than previously thought, which may make them more vulnerable to loss of summer sea ice. Learn the specifics of these new insights and what they may mean for bears, below.